Help me spend 5 grand

[88Stanger]

5,000 is a good amount, depending on what you end goal is for the truck. What do you want to do with the truck? compete rebuild from the ground up, just a few updates and good runner, road racer, drag racer .... once you know what you want to do with it then what to spend the $$ on will be easier to answer. Everyone has given great ideas and you can just run with one or any combination of them if you prefer, but i had a similar situation and i decided to go the full ground up. This then meant that it would be 2 years and alot more cash then i had, but over 2 years i would generate more for it and i did. So, good luck with what you decide then run with it. 5000 is a great start!!!

[66clow]

The bodywork I'm working on myself. The roof is my next thing to repair. So I'll save some money there. My paint is temporary for now. I've been repairing and rattle canning for this look. I want to try and get the other things done first.

What difference will I see with a OD transmission? Drive better? I know gas mileage should be better. Which trans? 700r? How much would a trans run? Difficult conversion? truck has been in the works so that is why the interior is a mess. I'll probably need to spend some cash there since I'll need to keep the windows up with ac. Make that look good. I'd love another truck but no space for that right now. I could of rented a house and forfeit this view, who would do that?

This is the progress so far on the truck

[Grumpy old man]

The beaches are great and once you drive over the Sunshine skyway bridge south towards Bradenton you'll see the water turn crystal clear , Tampa bay drains out and heads north along the beaches so the water clarity is different . Learn the Sting ray shuffle when in the ankle deep water or pay the price ! Ouch ! also remember there is a heavy concentration of BULL SHARKS in the Tampa bay area inside of the inter coastal waterways and bays ,Hammer heads have been seen up to 18' and there have been fatal attacks

It's a great place to live on the beach but just like any other tourist area when you go into the city area the atmoshere can change dramatically . After driving around the area for a while you'll see you won't need an overdrive trans ,the speeds just aren't that high with all the traffic . You'll see "pray for me I drive US 19 " bumper stickers ,Pinellas county is built out and 1 long strip mall from south st pete to pasco county over 30 miles of stop and go traffic .

A/C window tint and brakes would be first on my list .

[66clow]

Originally Posted by Grumpy old man

The beaches are great and once you drive over the Sunshine skyway bridge south towards Bradenton you'll see the water turn crystal clear , Tampa bay drains out and heads north along the beaches so the water clarity is different . Learn the Sting ray shuffle when in the ankle deep water or pay the price ! Ouch ! also remember there is a heavy concentration of BULL SHARKS in the Tampa bay area inside of the inter coastal waterways and bays ,Hammer heads have been seen up to 18' and there have been fatal attacks

It's a great place to live on the beach but just like any other tourist area when you go into the city area the atmoshere can change dramatically . After driving around the area for a while you'll see you won't need an overdrive trans ,the speeds just aren't that high with all the traffic . You'll see "pray for me I drive US 19 " bumper stickers ,Pinellas county is built out and 1 long strip mall from south st pete to pasco county over 30 miles of stop and go traffic .

A/C window tint and brakes would be first on my list .

Ok you have me all over the place, happy clear water, scared don't go in the water, happy no need for OD, scared traffic lol. I think I can deal with any traffic after moving from Los Angeles and dealing with the dreaded "405", "10", and "101". Thanks for the info. So looking forward to throwing some things in the truck to go fishing, biking, and maybe pulling some jet skis or a boat.

[Mike C]

You have more pics from the side down low? That truck looks lowered to me already and appears to have a power disc master/booster.

My Legend 5 spoke wheels cost $150 each for $600 and the tires were just a little more. That combo gets you wheels and tires for less than $1500. AC a great idea.

I'm not an air bag guy. A 4 1/2" front drop, 7" rear should be OK without a notch. Spend money on GOOD shocks and big sway bars!

[66clow]

Originally Posted by Mike C

You have more pics from the side down low? That truck looks lowered to me already and appears to have a power disc master/booster.

My Legend 5 spoke wheels cost $150 each for $600 and the tires were just a little more. That combo gets you wheels and tires for less than $1500. AC a great idea.

I'm not an air bag guy. A 4 1/2" front drop, 7" rear should be OK without a notch. Spend money on GOOD shocks and big sway bars!

So far suspension 3 5 drop, what do those wheels look like?

[1972RedNeck]

Originally Posted by 66clow

You can find me a truck for 5k?

All day every day.

[66clow]

Originally Posted by 1972RedNeck

All day every day.

At first I thought you were talking about getting another truck in place of. That's what I was responding too. Lol

[67ChevyRedneck]

It used to be cheap to add a 700R. I bought mine rebuilt locally for $800, junkyard factory auto cross member for $75, (you already have one with your TH350), then I spent $250 on Bowtie Overdrive TVmadeEZ (it's basically a bracket to match all of the popular carb brands with the TV cable) and TC unlock kit (unlocks the TC when you slam on the brakes, VERY important!). I also bought a pressure guage off ebay for like $30 that can screw into the 4th gear port and set the trans up based on shift pressures (there's specs you can find on the internet as to what is a good pressure range for each shift then you can adjust the TV cable to get it within that range).

It been in the truck since 2006 with +/-50K, maybe 60K, and it still shifts great. I leave mine in 3rd most of the time because where i live it's 45mph and under most roads until I get away (trans like to shift in OD around 40-45mph under light throttle and that's just a bit too early), then it's great to pop it in 4th on a cruise or on the interstate. Gas mileage isn't that much better than a TH350 around town, probably the same, but on the open road/interstate I get 15-16mpg. Not great, but the reduced engine noise is the best part, 75mph is 2300 RPM.

The last thing to consider is the rear axle ratio, if your truck started out as a 350/350 truck it probably has a 3.08 rear. They're not really an OD friendly rear in a truck shaped like a brick, most people prefer a 3.40's something to a 3.73 with a 700R as a 700R with a 3.08 tends to lug in OD (sucks). I have a 3.73.

[66clow]

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

It used to be cheap to add a 700R. I bought mine rebuilt locally for $800, junkyard factory auto cross member for $75, (you already have one with your TH350), then I spent $250 on Bowtie Overdrive TVmadeEZ (it's basically a bracket to match all of the popular carb brands with the TV cable) and TC unlock kit (unlocks the TC when you slam on the brakes, VERY important!). I also bought a pressure guage off ebay for like $30 that can screw into the 4th gear port and set the trans up based on shift pressures (there's specs you can find on the internet as to what is a good pressure range for each shift then you can adjust the TV cable to get it within that range).

It been in the truck since 2006 with +/-50K, maybe 60K, and it still shifts great. I leave mine in 3rd most of the time because where i live it's 45mph and under most roads until I get away (trans like to shift in OD around 40-45mph under light throttle and that's just a bit too early), then it's great to pop it in 4th on a cruise or on the interstate. Gas mileage isn't that much better than a TH350 around town, probably the same, but on the open road/interstate I get 15-16mpg. Not great, but the reduced engine noise is the best part, 75mph is 2300 RPM.

The last thing to consider is the rear axle ratio, if your truck started out as a 350/350 truck is probably has a 3.08 rear. They're not really an OD friendly rear in a truck shaped like a brick, most people prefer a 3.40's something to a 3.73 with a 700R as a 700R with a 3.08 tends to lug in OD (sucks). I have a 3.73.

Thanks for the info and vintage air post is awesome, that should be very helpful for me when I'm ready.

[RDrancher]

For a/c check these guys out too. http://www.oldairproducts.com/catalog/

They had some pretty nice stuff in their booth at Goodguys.

[67ChevyRedneck]

No problem! Just note that my crap on the "cables" and dash controls don't apply anymore. They moved to electronic slider connections. So my C10 still has cables, but i bought a kit for my 65 Mustang in 2013 and it's all electronic now (pic below is from my mustang, but truck kits are "similar" now). They're not difficult to install, just have to read directions, and once they're on the controller its all plug and play.

Truck kit has been working great in the SC heat since 2006 and the Mustang has been doing great as well, minus the tiny 65/66 radiators wanting to overheat at stoplights, but I'm fixing that right now, swapping from the stock 17" wide radiator to a factory 1969 24" wide one

[CaptRMW]

Welcome to paradise 66CLOW, I live in Tarpon Springs about 10 miles north of you. Give me a call and we can get together and talk trucks. PMed you my cell number. Capt.Roger

[Coley]

Almost complete ditto on what Jocko said...
Definitely add a/c (soon) and the O.D trans....these will be daily driving game changers for you
After that you have a variety of good choices....but focus on everything it takes to make the truck highly driveable because that is going to be what gets you in the truck.
So that certainly includes a possible disk brake upgrade, tighten up the steering and suspension.
If you focus on external trim/glam appearance stuff instead....it may end up as curb jewelry and you'll find yourself driving an air conditioned corolla around through the day...lol.

Nice truck by the way...

All Good
Coley

[68shortwide]

Love the character that the truck already has. I'd do an OD trans, AC, and maybe some drop spindles if you have cash leftover.

[custom10nut]

Given your truck in it's present state, I agree with the A/C and OD, but the $ would go a long way to paint, or wheels.
Are you going with the Medium Olive for the finished color?
I noticed that's the color of you firewall.
BTW, I really like your temp paint

[Mike C]

17x8 4.5" bs front 235 55 17 17x9 5" bs rear 275 55 17

4.5" and 7" drop. Spindle and 2" spring front, 7" leaf flip rear.

[66clow]

The ideas have been great. I already knew you can drop a ton of money into these trucks and not get anywhere lol. It doesn't seem as bad when you just spend 100 here 100 there. I'm not soo focused on the paint since you can put nice wheels on a rust bucket that's falling apart and it looks cool. For the most part I've taken care of the major rust issues since it came from the west coast which wasn't bad. The wheels, ac, interior stuff, and suspension sound good. I like the OD but may not be necessary since I have a company car for daily use. I'm a claims adjuster so I lost all my shop connections since moving. So hoping to establish new ones and fit everything into the budget to do myself at a shop since I have no garage.